Halfway to Sanity

About Halfway to Sanity

Halfway to Sanity is the 10th studio album by American punk band the Ramones, and their last album to feature drummer Richie Ramone. It was produced by Daniel Rey and released on September 15, 1987, by Sire Records. Recording sessions began that April at Intergalactic Studios in New York City, with the band recording instruments before vocals in order to learn songs more quickly. It fared well on charts outside the United States, but peaked at No. 172 on the Billboard 200. The band members disagreed on many things; Rey described them as impatient. The band toured the world following the album's release, but certain show dates were cancelled after Richie left the band because he did not feel he was getting paid enough. The band hired Blondie drummer Clem Burke (who took the pseudonym "Elvis Ramone") for two shows, until Marky Ramone returned. Genres varied significantly throughout the album, with some songs showing the influence of hard rock, heavy metal music, and crossover thrash, while also containing songs with a bubblegum pop feel. Additionally, Joey is heard singing a duet with Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry on "Go Lil' Camaro Go". This resulted in mixed critical reviews; nevertheless, Stephen Thomas Erlewine later wrote, the album was the last time the band "still sounded like they mattered."Halfway to Sanity marked the final time Dee Dee Ramone's bass playing would be featured on a Ramones album. He appeared on their next album Brain Drain as a songwriter and vocalist, but several session bassists were employed in his place more »